What to see in Porto

Old town, riverside and viewpoints between the Sé and the Ribeira

Porto's old town runs from the hill of the Sé Cathedral down to the Ribeira on the Douro and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way are the Torre dos Clérigos, São Bento station with its tile panels and the Palácio da Bolsa.

Old town, river and surroundings

Ribeira The Ribeira is the old town's riverfront on the Douro. The Luís I Bridge starts here, and its lower deck takes you on foot to Vila Nova de Gaia. Livraria Lello Livraria Lello is a bookshop with neo-Gothic architecture on Rua das Carmelitas. Entry is by ticket, and the ticket value is deducted when you buy a book. Vila Nova de Gaia Gaia lies on the south bank of the Douro, opposite the Ribeira. The cellars of the port houses line the waterfront and the hillside, the Serra do Pilar Monastery stands above, and a cable car runs in between. Douro Valley The Douro Valley is port wine country and has been a World Heritage Site since 2001. The railway from Porto follows the river for long stretches, and Régua and Pinhão are the usual day-trip destinations. Beaches West of the old town, the Atlantic begins. Foz do Douro has a string of small beaches and Matosinhos a long city beach, and you can reach both by tram or metro. Day trips Aveiro lies on its lagoon south of Porto, Guimarães and Braga to the north. CP suburban trains serve all three, and the Douro Line (Linha do Douro) runs into the Douro Valley.

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The old town as a World Heritage Site

Porto's historic centre has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1996. Its full name is Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar, and it is listed as an example of an urban landscape that has grown over more than a thousand years.

It all began on the cathedral hill, the Morro da Sé, where people were already living in the first millennium BC. From there the city grew down towards the Douro. The relationship with the river and the opposite bank in Vila Nova de Gaia still shapes the old town today, whether you see it from the Ribeira or from the south bank.

Sé Cathedral

The Sé Cathedral stands on the Morro da Sé, the hill where Porto began. From here the lanes of the old town lead downhill to the river.

Torre dos Clérigos

The Torre dos Clérigos is the tower of the Clérigos Church, designed by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni. The tower has defined Porto's skyline since 1763. A visit covers the tower, the museum and the church, and from the top the view takes in the whole city.

The Livraria Lello bookshop is close by.

São Bento station

São Bento station has been protected as a Property of Public Interest since 1997. The listing covers the building, the metal train shed, the tile panels and the tunnel portal. The tile panels are the work of the painter Jorge Colaço.

Palácio da Bolsa

The Palácio da Bolsa on Rua Ferreira Borges is the seat of the Associação Comercial do Porto, the city's commercial association. Visits to the palace are by guided tour. Its rooms include the Salão Árabe.

The Porto Card gives a discount on the tour, but the card is not on sale at the moment.

Viewpoints

For a panoramic view over the city, head to the top of the Torre dos Clérigos. Down by the river you see the city from below: the Luís I Bridge starts at the Ribeira, and its lower deck takes you across to Vila Nova de Gaia. There, on the south bank, stands the Serra do Pilar Monastery, which is also part of the World Heritage Site.

If you want to venture beyond the city, the Day trips and Douro Valley pages have ideas.

Frequently asked questions

What should I see in Porto? +

The old town with the Sé Cathedral, the Torre dos Clérigos, São Bento station and the Palácio da Bolsa, plus the Ribeira on the Douro and the Luís I Bridge. Vila Nova de Gaia lies on the south bank.

What does Porto's UNESCO World Heritage Site include? +

The site is called Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar and was inscribed in 1996. It covers the old town around the cathedral hill, the bridge across the Douro and the monastery on the Gaia bank.

Do I need a ticket for Livraria Lello? +

Yes. Every ticket counts as a voucher for a book, and its value is deducted when you buy one. For details, see Livraria Lello.

Can I visit the Palácio da Bolsa without a guided tour? +

Visits to the Palácio da Bolsa are by guided tour. The palace sells tickets on its own website.